Foxrangi pick for steeples

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32612, 21 May 1971, Page 1 (Supplement)

Foxrangi pick for steeples

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND. Against the least formidable outside opposition for years, the local jumpers, Foxrangi, Kimberlite, Sentry, and Proud Vai, seem likely to share the $BOOO Waikato Steeplechase prize

at Te Rapa tomorrow. The Waikato Steeplechase has usually been an attraction to central district and, sometimes, South Island jumpers but this time the only visiting horse in the big field is Gay Erin, a 10-year-

old gelding from Hastings, ingi, a nine-year-old, is trained at Te Rapa where he has a 100 per cent record of four wins in four starts over the country. In his latest attempt he won very clearly in the Vercoe Steeplechase, a week ago. That performance was sufficient to make Foxrangi favourite for tomorrow’s big race, in which he has 21b more — 10.5 as against 10.3.

As well as being able to stay well, Foxrangi has pace a plenty for a steeplechaser. If he races up to. his best form he will be prominent all the way. Kimberlite and Sentry are not blessed with the same speed over fences and quickness between them but they are . stout stayers. Kimberlite, a mare from the Robinson stable at Matangi, chased Foxrangi in the Vercoe Steeplechase.

Sentry’s Sate dab for third in the Waikato Hurdles was really eye-catching. It is over the longer steeplechase courses, in really heavy ground, that Kimberlite excels, as she showed last winter with het second in the Great Northern Steeplechase. Sentry, on the other hand, finds really heavy ground hard to handle. He was good over country in the spring of last season but could not regain the same form when it came to last winter. Proud Vai, a five-year-old

gelding by Proud Look, has always encouraged hopes he would become a successful steeplechaser and his success at Te Rapa on May 8 in his first try was notable even if he was helped by the antics of Balstar, which bucked off his rider aftet looking a very real threat inside the last furlong. * Both Balstar and Proud Vai showed plenty of speed. The progress of both, and especially Proud Vai, will be

greatly interesting. For all their mediocrity, the candidates for the, first leg of the T.A.B. concession double, the President’s Handicap, are a pretty even lot. Nipawin, Brookby Hill, Kind Regards and Bevlyn seem the best prospects. Each goes well On the heavy footing which is so probable. Cambridge Fair, another mudlark, St Bruce, Free Pass, and Brylee look best in the Flying Mile, the second leg.